Graduate Program of Research and Extension (CEPEG), University Center of Espirito Santo, Espírito Santo 29703-858, Brazil.
Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Aug 4;24(15):12440. doi: 10.3390/ijms241512440.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in older adults, having a significant global burden and increasing prevalence. Current treatments for AD only provide symptomatic relief and do not cure the disease. Physical activity has been extensively studied as a potential preventive measure against cognitive decline and AD. Recent research has identified a hormone called irisin, which is produced during exercise, that has shown promising effects on cognitive function. Irisin acts on the brain by promoting neuroprotection by enhancing the growth and survival of neurons. It also plays a role in metabolism, energy regulation, and glucose homeostasis. Furthermore, irisin has been found to modulate autophagy, which is a cellular process involved in the clearance of protein aggregates, which are a hallmark of AD. Additionally, irisin has been shown to protect against cell death, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation, all of which are implicated in AD pathogenesis. However, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and therapeutic potential of irisin in AD. Despite the current gaps in knowledge, irisin holds promise as a potential therapeutic target for slowing cognitive decline and improving quality of life in AD patients.
阿尔茨海默病（AD）是导致老年人痴呆的主要原因，在全球范围内造成了巨大负担，并呈上升趋势。目前 AD 的治疗方法仅能提供症状缓解，无法治愈该疾病。身体活动已被广泛研究作为预防认知能力下降和 AD 的潜在措施。最近的研究发现了一种叫做鸢尾素的激素，它在运动时产生，对认知功能有积极影响。鸢尾素通过促进神经元的生长和存活来发挥神经保护作用，从而作用于大脑。它还在代谢、能量调节和葡萄糖稳态中发挥作用。此外，已经发现鸢尾素可以调节自噬，自噬是一种涉及清除蛋白质聚集体的细胞过程，而蛋白质聚集体是 AD 的一个标志。此外，鸢尾素还可以防止细胞死亡、细胞凋亡、氧化应激和神经炎症，所有这些都与 AD 的发病机制有关。然而，需要进一步研究才能充分了解鸢尾素在 AD 中的作用机制和治疗潜力。尽管目前知识存在差距，但鸢尾素有望成为减缓认知能力下降和改善 AD 患者生活质量的潜在治疗靶点。
